Paulie Calafiore and Paul Abrahamian have been working together closely for weeks now on Big Brother 18 but apparently Paul isn’t quite as ready to yield the game to Paulie as everyone else appears ready to do. The noms have been set but both of these guys have a vested interest in keeping their own pet project alive in the game.

Unless this week’s Power of Veto comp changes things up ahead of Thursday’s vote then one of these guys isn’t going to get his way and neither is willing to let that happen just yet.

Overnight Paul and Paulie renewed their debate for whether or not it’d be best for their games to keep Michelle or Zakiyah, this week’s pair of nominees. We’ve got the obvious connections with Paulie to Zakiyah and Paul to Michelle, though the latter may not be as obvious. Paul has recently been working more on building trust with Michelle though it’s mostly built on a foundation of lies and deception.

Flashback to 3:35 AM BBT 8/6 to hear Paul and Paulie discuss the issue with Corey watching and providing the occasional input.

Paul is again making his argument that Michelle is too emotional of a player and will continue to be weakened as long as she is sent to the Block and verbally beaten along the way. Obviously that’s been true so far this week as she has spent a good bit of time in hysterics and tears for being a target and Victor’s rhyming speech attack. But while Michelle has been shaken they’ve watched Zakiyah remain strong and determined which worries Paul.

Paulie notes that if he wins Veto he wouldn’t use it but then says “if I don’t use it” that Zakiyah would need to go. Considering Paulie is competing for the Veto he may face this choice. I’d assume he’d find a way to convince Zakiyah it’d somehow be bad for her game if he used it then still focus on getting out Michelle instead. It wouldn’t surprise me at all.

Corey chimes in that Zakiyah would put up Victor and Bridgette, supporting Paulie’s suggestion to keep her. Paul counters that Michelle would make the same nominations and he’s sure he could get in her ear to make it happen if she swayed from those choices.

Neither guy is giving in. Paul says Zakiyah is more worrisome down the road. Paulie says Michelle is more likely to spread rumors and relay secrets. It’s a back and forth that just keeps going as we’ve been hearing for the past day.

Finally Paul says he’d be happy with either going… but he’s more worried about what would happen should Zakiyah win a competition. Nothing is decided and Corey leaves. Paul tells Paulie he made a few good arguments but neither appears ready to give in on this.

During the discussion Paulie suggested they wait for the Veto Ceremony to be over before worrying about this too much and they’ll come together to make a decision on it then. I imagine we’ll hear plenty more talks on this between now and then and again before Thursday. The Veto comp is going on right now and that could make things very clear or leave them just as complicated.

Aside from each of these guys wanting their respective female counterpart to stay we’ve seen some wavering among the other guys. Corey was going back and forth on who he’d like to see stay so he’ll probably do whatever. James was convinced earlier by Paulie that Michelle needed to go and he’s got those vote-nullifications waiting in the wings for Paulie’s command. Paul does have Victor on his side of this, but Victor can’t vote unless James manages a tie through the use of his Care Package power.

If Paul pulls off going against Paulie then I’ll be impressed and it could mark a turning point in the game where HGs realize that maybe they don’t have to give Paulie what he wants when he asks for it. Or maybe not and they’ll all just keep laying down to build a human ladder for Paulie to climb up and grab that check. What do you think will happen this week?

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